Gov't to come out with recommendations on Tema Shipyard saga

The government is studying the financial, technical and legal operations of the Tema Shipyard Company Limited and will come out with its recommendations in due course, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, Minister of Ports, Harbours and Railways said on Thursday.

Addressing the workers during a surprise visit to the company, he said the company is viable and the government would not leave it to go down the drain.

For the past two months, the workers had been demanding salary increases and a review of their collective bargaining agreement, among other demands, and had accused the Malaysian management of treating them unfairly.

Prof Ameyaw-Akumfi said his office would work within the context of the existing agreement and make recommendations to the government.

The Minister commended the workers for exhibiting maturity in their operations for not taking the law into their own hands and advised them to do away with negative tendencies that would mar the achievements.

He urged them to continue to work in the spirit of patriotism so that they do not give cause for the company to be closed down while their grievances are being investigated.

He said if it becomes necessary, the government might take over the company as an option.

The workers complained that the Malaysian expatriates had adopted unfair labour practices to the detriment of the workers and called for quick governmental intervention to save the company from total collapse.

They said while a worker received 400,000 cedis as salary, the Malaysian managers were paid 800 dollars as maidservant allowance and "fat salaries".